Ho! Thank you David for post about “I “, “self” etc. My I recently underwent a change as a result of a stroke. I am aware that I am not the same person, in an odd way it is exciting to have shed the old self. I have no idea as to why I was “saved” through a medical procedure, to become this “other” person with different considerations. Regardless, I”the me that is currently typing this with a short term memory problem” am eternally grateful to the medical team, family and others who have enabled me to continue in a changed body, mind even so that I will and do approach all whom I come in contact with in an embrace of loving kindness, either mentally or physically. I am having to give up “why me saved” and instead simply feel an enormous life of gratitude, almost feels like a fresh start in this human form. Thank you David for your words of Buddha wisdom.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Diane! You have been through a lot. I often think that when we go through illnesses and medical shocks we come out the other end feeling somehow changed. Just as you describe. But how grateful to experience reality as a mere I!
Thank you for a great explanation, so easy to understand and follow. I do have one question and you may have previously answered this but; I ask this with sincere respect, as well as desire for an answer. Since there is no "I" , how am I creating Karma for myself?
Sometimes I have a grasp on all this, and sometimes I struggle.
Thanks JoAnn, this question often comes up in relation to discussing the I. There is an I, albeit not a permanent one. You create and experience the fruits of previous actions as a mere 'I.' Karmic imprints are carried in the very subtle mind/wind that moves from one life to another.
Yes - Thank you ...at last a clear explanation of something I was never sure I was understanding properly...now I think I have finally "got it"... and also the inclusion of the "soul" - which I always felt could not be the "me" I am here and now...but something (hopefully) rather better.
Thanks so much for this email. I need to read it many times so I get all the knowledge you shared wit us. Thanks so much for your help to save the rhinos. I am so sad to read the people kills them for theri r horns.
I admire and respect your wonderful job sharing all this information. Thanks again.
Thank you David for explaining about "me", "I" and "soul". Interesting! I sort of get it, and then also, I appear to be a slow learner in some things.
THANK YOU even more for Dhama!
This I understand well. I am very thankful that you have found this cause for our endangered Rhinos and have contributed towards Dhama's safety in the wild.
May Dhama and his fellow Rhino's live long, happy and productive lives
Thanks David. Despite your lovely explanation, I'm still struggling but it doesn't really matter.Freddie Mercury sang it best - nothing really matters to me. I get the ever changing "I" bucket of bits, and I get the thread of being that runs through different re-births. That will have to do for now! Keep up the amazing work with those charities, please. Regards
Kia ora David, That was a beutiful newsletter, both for your writing on the I/self concepts, and for the info on the rhino's and Dharma. I had an 'ahah moment in reading the peice you had written on the soul. Something clarified with me, and I feel I could now have a coherent discussion with people who are from a Christian perspective. As well as feeling clearer on the experience of self and not self
Aha moments are always helpful! Thanks Kim. I'm not sure that people with settled opinions from other traditions are very motivated to try to understand this concept, although the teachings of Jesus more gnostic in flavour certainly point in the same overall direction.
I'm so delighted to be connected to all the good work that comes from our contributions to your blog. Dharma is a precious reminder of our connection to all. Thank you. ❤️🙏
This has always been a confusing concept for me. We are taught from being a baby, what your name is, the parts of your body, the items you receive, eat and relationships.
It is extremely difficult to disregard this as your whole life revolves around me, my and I.
When you go to school, when you start working, when you enter a relationship or even just making friends. The whole of society enforce this upon you. You have to have an Identification Card, a Passport, a birthdate, a bank account, a Password and so on. They all become yours and a way of identifying yourself or I.
When you have joy or pain, it belongs to you. No one else.
You can’t feel somebody’s pain or joy, you can only observe it.
Then we have to undo that learning of a lifetime to try and understand that we are really ethereal and somebody that is made up by a conscience which we call I.
If the ethereal you cuts me the ethereal I feels it and it hurts!
Thanks David always a great simple explanation.
The support of the rhino’s is fantastic and generous of spirit. Long may “Dharma” prosper and live to a good age. A great name.
Thank you David…I always thought the real me is God and the human me is illusion and as long as I keep incarnating my experiences are illusionary tho as human they feel real so much of the time tho every now and then I get a glimmer that as God , which is my true being, “these experiences” are nil…and when I’m in that state I’m just dreamily happy no matter mine or any circumstances around me, I’m in my bliss tho it’s never more than a glimmer ( so far) 🥰
Right to the point! Thank you so much for this exploration and for presenting it so clearly.
I, too, lived in the shadow of depression for most of my twenties, believing all sorts of things about my ‘permanent’ self. It truly felt like an impossible to escape trap.
Once I realized the non-continuity of self, I could see the narrative of the mind continuing, as if it were wound up like an old toy. This revealed to me the distinction you described here: the ‘true self,’ a continuum of body and mind, and the ‘false self,’ the imaginary entity which makes living all the more troublesome :)
As usual, you address a question that eventually arises for every Buddhist practitioner and give a concise answer! Your suggestion that "...a caret (‸ or ^) should be inserted wherever the phrase no ‸ self is used, implying the all-important, qualifying phrase ‘inherently existent..." is perfect! As an example of unnecessary confusion, it is my experience that when newcomers first read the brief version of the Heart Sutra that we chant, some are upset by all the 'no's': "...no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind...", etc. They don't understand that this an extremely condensed version of a very long sutra, and so essential words like 'inherently existent' or (as I say) 'permanently abiding' are not included. Once one understands that those all-important words are to be understood as a given, it makes perfect sense!
Thanks, as always, for your clear and accessible explanations!
Thanks Misha, our Geshe used to emphasize exactly this point when reciting the Heart Sutra. Cultural translation is needed otherwise is just seems bizarre and nihilistic, even though its meaning is quite beautiful.
Again, David, you have explained in a very understandable way the reality of Self as embraced in Buddhist belief. I’ve always struggled with the various explanations that I have read, and yours today, simplified and made clear to me the true essence of the concept. Thank you! Also, it’s wonderful to learn about the rhino project and that is an example of another thing you have done for all of us - making us all more aware of Life as it is expressed by all kinds of sentient beings! Beings (like rhinos!) that maybe we have never even thought of before. Thank you very much for that too.
My heartfelt thanks for your kind message Susan! I was concerned that today's post may be seen as a bit arcane or out of reach, but I also felt it important to address a subject that is quite central to our sense of self.
Thank you for explaining there is no contradiction referring to self while embracing Buddhist concepts.
Regardless ones’ religious leanings, your insight and clarity distinguishing concepts about self, shed light on what can be a linguistic complexity and lead to misunderstanding.
Like your idea of the caret ^
WHOLE-HEARTEDLY LOVE you are helping the Rhino project with subscriptions and donations! Incredible!!
Thank you David! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Dharma's story! Today's post is one that I need to reread, reread, and ponder - this is a very good thing!
Ho! Thank you David for post about “I “, “self” etc. My I recently underwent a change as a result of a stroke. I am aware that I am not the same person, in an odd way it is exciting to have shed the old self. I have no idea as to why I was “saved” through a medical procedure, to become this “other” person with different considerations. Regardless, I”the me that is currently typing this with a short term memory problem” am eternally grateful to the medical team, family and others who have enabled me to continue in a changed body, mind even so that I will and do approach all whom I come in contact with in an embrace of loving kindness, either mentally or physically. I am having to give up “why me saved” and instead simply feel an enormous life of gratitude, almost feels like a fresh start in this human form. Thank you David for your words of Buddha wisdom.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Diane! You have been through a lot. I often think that when we go through illnesses and medical shocks we come out the other end feeling somehow changed. Just as you describe. But how grateful to experience reality as a mere I!
Thank you for a great explanation, so easy to understand and follow. I do have one question and you may have previously answered this but; I ask this with sincere respect, as well as desire for an answer. Since there is no "I" , how am I creating Karma for myself?
Sometimes I have a grasp on all this, and sometimes I struggle.
Thank You
JoAnn
Thanks JoAnn, this question often comes up in relation to discussing the I. There is an I, albeit not a permanent one. You create and experience the fruits of previous actions as a mere 'I.' Karmic imprints are carried in the very subtle mind/wind that moves from one life to another.
Yes - Thank you ...at last a clear explanation of something I was never sure I was understanding properly...now I think I have finally "got it"... and also the inclusion of the "soul" - which I always felt could not be the "me" I am here and now...but something (hopefully) rather better.
So glad to know that it helps, Kate!
Dearest David,
Thanks so much for this email. I need to read it many times so I get all the knowledge you shared wit us. Thanks so much for your help to save the rhinos. I am so sad to read the people kills them for theri r horns.
I admire and respect your wonderful job sharing all this information. Thanks again.
Rossy Cortes
Mexico
My heartfelt thanks, Rossy!
Thank you David for explaining about "me", "I" and "soul". Interesting! I sort of get it, and then also, I appear to be a slow learner in some things.
THANK YOU even more for Dhama!
This I understand well. I am very thankful that you have found this cause for our endangered Rhinos and have contributed towards Dhama's safety in the wild.
May Dhama and his fellow Rhino's live long, happy and productive lives
Many thanks, Margaret. This concept of the 'I' is a real slippery fish for us all!
Thanks David. Despite your lovely explanation, I'm still struggling but it doesn't really matter.Freddie Mercury sang it best - nothing really matters to me. I get the ever changing "I" bucket of bits, and I get the thread of being that runs through different re-births. That will have to do for now! Keep up the amazing work with those charities, please. Regards
If you get the bucket of bits, that's the main thing, thanks Chris! Your messages always make me smile!
Kia ora David, That was a beutiful newsletter, both for your writing on the I/self concepts, and for the info on the rhino's and Dharma. I had an 'ahah moment in reading the peice you had written on the soul. Something clarified with me, and I feel I could now have a coherent discussion with people who are from a Christian perspective. As well as feeling clearer on the experience of self and not self
Aha moments are always helpful! Thanks Kim. I'm not sure that people with settled opinions from other traditions are very motivated to try to understand this concept, although the teachings of Jesus more gnostic in flavour certainly point in the same overall direction.
Bless your soul! This was simply wonderful.
I'm so delighted to be connected to all the good work that comes from our contributions to your blog. Dharma is a precious reminder of our connection to all. Thank you. ❤️🙏
I am so glad that you found it helpful, thank you Penelope!
This has always been a confusing concept for me. We are taught from being a baby, what your name is, the parts of your body, the items you receive, eat and relationships.
It is extremely difficult to disregard this as your whole life revolves around me, my and I.
When you go to school, when you start working, when you enter a relationship or even just making friends. The whole of society enforce this upon you. You have to have an Identification Card, a Passport, a birthdate, a bank account, a Password and so on. They all become yours and a way of identifying yourself or I.
When you have joy or pain, it belongs to you. No one else.
You can’t feel somebody’s pain or joy, you can only observe it.
Then we have to undo that learning of a lifetime to try and understand that we are really ethereal and somebody that is made up by a conscience which we call I.
If the ethereal you cuts me the ethereal I feels it and it hurts!
Thanks David always a great simple explanation.
The support of the rhino’s is fantastic and generous of spirit. Long may “Dharma” prosper and live to a good age. A great name.
I am so glad that this post resonated with you, Peter!
Thank you David…I always thought the real me is God and the human me is illusion and as long as I keep incarnating my experiences are illusionary tho as human they feel real so much of the time tho every now and then I get a glimmer that as God , which is my true being, “these experiences” are nil…and when I’m in that state I’m just dreamily happy no matter mine or any circumstances around me, I’m in my bliss tho it’s never more than a glimmer ( so far) 🥰
This idea sounds very much in accord with the esoteric Christian tradition, Adrienne, and quite closely related to the Buddhist view.
Right to the point! Thank you so much for this exploration and for presenting it so clearly.
I, too, lived in the shadow of depression for most of my twenties, believing all sorts of things about my ‘permanent’ self. It truly felt like an impossible to escape trap.
Once I realized the non-continuity of self, I could see the narrative of the mind continuing, as if it were wound up like an old toy. This revealed to me the distinction you described here: the ‘true self,’ a continuum of body and mind, and the ‘false self,’ the imaginary entity which makes living all the more troublesome :)
So glad to hear that you have thrown off the heavy yoke of that oppressive, false I Justyna! Thanks for your comment and engaging with this post!
Dear David,
As usual, you address a question that eventually arises for every Buddhist practitioner and give a concise answer! Your suggestion that "...a caret (‸ or ^) should be inserted wherever the phrase no ‸ self is used, implying the all-important, qualifying phrase ‘inherently existent..." is perfect! As an example of unnecessary confusion, it is my experience that when newcomers first read the brief version of the Heart Sutra that we chant, some are upset by all the 'no's': "...no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind...", etc. They don't understand that this an extremely condensed version of a very long sutra, and so essential words like 'inherently existent' or (as I say) 'permanently abiding' are not included. Once one understands that those all-important words are to be understood as a given, it makes perfect sense!
Thanks, as always, for your clear and accessible explanations!
With gratitude, Misha
Thanks Misha, our Geshe used to emphasize exactly this point when reciting the Heart Sutra. Cultural translation is needed otherwise is just seems bizarre and nihilistic, even though its meaning is quite beautiful.
Again, David, you have explained in a very understandable way the reality of Self as embraced in Buddhist belief. I’ve always struggled with the various explanations that I have read, and yours today, simplified and made clear to me the true essence of the concept. Thank you! Also, it’s wonderful to learn about the rhino project and that is an example of another thing you have done for all of us - making us all more aware of Life as it is expressed by all kinds of sentient beings! Beings (like rhinos!) that maybe we have never even thought of before. Thank you very much for that too.
My heartfelt thanks for your kind message Susan! I was concerned that today's post may be seen as a bit arcane or out of reach, but I also felt it important to address a subject that is quite central to our sense of self.
Thank you for explaining there is no contradiction referring to self while embracing Buddhist concepts.
Regardless ones’ religious leanings, your insight and clarity distinguishing concepts about self, shed light on what can be a linguistic complexity and lead to misunderstanding.
Like your idea of the caret ^
WHOLE-HEARTEDLY LOVE you are helping the Rhino project with subscriptions and donations! Incredible!!
🦏 Long may they grace this dear planet.🌎
Couldn't agree with you more, Linda! Long live rhinos and carets!
Thank you for sharing your personal story. Your story is very inspiring. No mud no lotus.
I am glad to be a part of success story of Dharma.
My grateful thanks for your kind message, Sharon!
Thank you David! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Dharma's story! Today's post is one that I need to reread, reread, and ponder - this is a very good thing!
Quite right Charlene. Listening, thinking and meditating is critical to embody Dharma wisdom, and this subject especially!